Early contact with patients is beneficial

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7470.0-e

BMJ 2004;329 (9 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7470.0-e

Early contact with patients is beneficial

Medical students and teachers favour having clinical experienceearly in medical school. Interviewing 64 students, staff, andcurriculum leaders from three university medical schools inthe United Kingdom, Dornan and Bundy (p 834) found that earlyexperience can generate greater motivation and confidence, greatersocial and self awareness, and better theoretical understandingamong students. A lack of early experience can demotivate studentsand leave them vulnerable to negative emotions when they finallyenter the clinical environment.